Sheet metal straightening tool



ct- 31, 1950 F. J. HAUscHlLD SHEET METAL STRAGHTENING TOOL Filed May 22, 1947 Inl/@r1 'or: ErlHauschi la Patented Oct. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEY SHEET METAL STRAIGHTENING vTOOL Frederick J. Hauschild, Oneonta, N. Y.

Application May 22, 1947, Serial No. 749,685

7 claims. (c1. 15s- 32) This invention relates generally to the class of tools and pertains particularly to devices designed for use in connection with the repairing of, or straightening, sheet metal bodies, more particularly automobile bodies, and this application -constitutes a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 653,452 filed March 11, 1946, now abandoned.

In the repairing of damaged automobile bodies where denting of the sheet metal material is involved, fluid operated hammering machines have been developed whichv involve the use of an anvil or dolly supported upon a frame in opposed relation to an air driven hammering unit whereby, when the dented sheet metal vbody is interposed between the hammering unit and anvil the dent may be hammered or ironed out to re- `store the metal to its former condition.

A machine of the character described is shown in my Patents Nos. 2,148,619 and 2,148,943, which issued February 28, 1931.

Tools of the character referred to are highly efcient where the dented area is not extensive or rather where the dent does not cover a large area but difliculty is involved in restoring the dented portion of the sheet metal to its former plane where there is a large dent covering a very large area and accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to -provde an improved implement or air hammer accessory which is designed to facilitate the use of a standard dent removing machine of the character stated to straighten or iron out those large or extensive dents in sheet metal which are not readily restored by the use of the hammer and anvil units alone. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for a tool of the character shown in my prior patents above identified, whereby the hammer unit and anvil of the tool may be easily moved over a large area to restore a dented surface to its former smooth form.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an attachment ofthe character stated for a machine of the character above identified, wherein the attachment not only provides a guide or supporting rail for a movable trolley unit to facilitate the movement of the trolley unit over a dent of extensive character but also functions as a template or die which, by bridging the dented area serves to align the hammered out dented portion with the undented surrounding portion of the sheet metal body.

' The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specication, withthe understanding however, that the invention is not to be understood as limited to the exact details of l construction shown and de'- scribed since obvious modiiications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the drawing: v

Figure 1 illustrates an air hammer or dent removing machine of .the character shown in my above identified patents in association with the attachment forming the subject matter of the present invention, the whole being shown applied to a dented portion of the metal top of a motor vehicle body.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the guide or trolley supporting rail.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the trolley or movable unit which is attached to and carried by the bell of the air hammer.

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section of the track and trolley showing the attached bell in elevation.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the underside of the trolley unit to which the hammer sleeve and bell are attached, showing the opening through which the air hammer operates.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing the reference character M generally designates the fluid operated hammering machine disclosed in my prior patents and in association with which the present invention is used.

The machine M includes the relative long substantially U-shaped yoke I0 upon one end of which is supported the anvil or dolly Il. Upon the other end of the yoke is secured a pneumatic hammer unit which includes the hammer cylinder l2 and a fluid supply pipe I3. This hammer unit has the air driven hammer, not shown, whichl is within the cylinder l2, positioned to move in cooperation with the anvil ll so that when a sheet metal body is interposed between the hammer and the anvil, the dented area can be hammered or ironed out.

Also forming a part of the patented machine M is a sleeve I4 which is removably secured around the hammer cylinder I2 and which carries upon its outer end the enlarged portion or bell I5 which, in the patented machine, rests upon the dented sheet metal body to .stabilize the hammer unit.

The numeral I6 generally designates a sheet metal body which is represented as forming a portion of a turret top of a motor vehicle body although, obviously, the machine is not conned to this particular use but may be used in connection with any sheet metal bodies which are to be straightened or hammered out to a former smooth condition, after being dented. The body I6 is here shown as having a depressed or dented portion la of extensive area which could not be readily ironed out or removed by the use of the patented machine.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided the trolley unit generally designated Il which comprises the plate portion IB and the raised laterally projecting and oppositely positioned slide flanges I9. The plate I8 is of relatively large area and is here shown as being rectangular in outline but it may be square if desired.

Formed in the plate I8 is the hole or opening I8', which is of the maximum diameter permitted between the slide iianges I9.

The bell l5 of the machine is provided with the integral radially extending attaching ears 2G and the face of the bell is applied to the top of the trolley plate lf3 between the flanges le over and concentric with the opening IS; and the attaching ears 26 are secured to the plate i8 in a suitable manner as, by Welding or by the use of rivets or other securing devices which are flush upon the underside or working face of the trolley plate. The hammer (not shown) which reciprocates within the cylinder l2, is projected through the opening i8 against the body i5, against the under face of which the dolly ll presses.

The numeral 2l generally designates a support or bridge for the trolley unit il, which bridge is of substantial length and is designed to extend across or bridge the dent or depression lGa in the sheet metal body, which is to be straightened or flattened out.

The bridge 2l comprises the two spaced parallel rails 22 which are longitudinally arcuate and are preferably of angular cross section as shown, with a ilange 23 of each directed inwardly in edge opposed relation with the opposite ange. These rails 22 are connected together at their ends in any suitable manner as, for example, by the application of the cross rods 2d which are Welded or otherwise connected to the ends of the rails to lie Aincr above the plane of the undersuriaces of the opposed flanges 23.

The distance between the opposed edges of the anges 23 is substantially equal to the width of the plate li and this plate is designed to position between the guide rail fdanges with the track flanges iQ of the trolley plate resting upon the top surfaces of the guide rail flanges 23 as shown f' seen that the machine can be moved back and 'i forth longitudinally of the bridge, the trolley sliding on the bridge over and maintaining the hammer (not shown) in proper opposed relation with the underlying dolly. Accordingly as the air hammer is operated the dented portion lGa will be gradually forced back until it is pressed against the underside of the bridge flanges 23 and the under face of the trolley plate I8. Thus the bridge and trolley plate, in eiiect, constitute a die or template for aligning the restored portion lof the sheet metal body with the surrounding undented portion thereof,

While the trolley and bridge units are here shown and have been described as being used in conjunction one with the other it will be readily apparent that use may be made of the trolley unit I1 without the bridge 2|, Where the dents which are to be removed are not of the extensive character illustrated in Figure 1.

From the foregoing it'will be readilyseen that there is provided in the present invention a novel and desirable accessory for the dent removing machine of the character referred to whereby the utility and emciency of such machine is greatly increased.

It will be understood -from the foregoing that Whereas in the machine illustrated in the patents referred to the bell l5 rests against the Work and the hammer which is enclosed within the cylinder l2, drives or operates through the bell directly against the sheet metal body which is being straightened, in the use of the present accessories, the bell supporting plate rests against the work, with the bridge 2l, and the hammer drives through the bell and through the opening I8', against the body l5. Thus the force of the harnmer blows will-be opposed by the anvil or dolly l l and the dent will be rapidly flattened or eliminated from the sheet of metal.

I claim:

l. The combination with a sheet metal dent straightening machine having a hammer carrying cylinder and a coacting opposing anvil; of a plate disposed across an end of the cylinder, means securing the plate to the cylinder, the said-plate having a flat Work contacting face of large area and being disposed in a plane between the cylinder and said anvil, said securingl means maintaining the plate rigidly in a plane substantially perpendicular to the cylinder, vthe plate having an opening through which the hammer in the cylinder operates against a dented body, and a long bridge to slidably support said plate.

2. The combination with a sheet metal dent Vstraightening machine having a hammer carrying cylinder and a coacting opposing anvil; of a plate disposed across an end of the cylinder, means securing the plate to the cylinder, the said plate having a fiat work contacting face of large area and being disposed in a plane between the cylinder and said anvil, said securing means maintaining the plate rigidly in a plane substantially perpendicular to the cylinder, the plate having an opening through which the hammer in the cylinder operates-against a dented body, and a relatively long bridge and means coupling'the bridge and-plate to slidably support the plate for back and forth movement across the dent.

' 3. The combinationy with a sheet metal dent straightening machine having a hammer carrying cylinder and a coacting opposing anvil, of a bell unit carried by the hammer cylinder and extending beycnd the end of the cylinder which is adjacent to the anvil, a plate of an area materially greater than the area covered by the bellY and disposed across the bell, means securing the bell to the Aplate and rigidly holding the plate against movement independently of the bell and hammer cylinder, said plate having an opening for the hammer to Work through against a piece of Work, a relatively long bridge member designed to extendacross a dent in a sheet metal body, and means for slidably coupling the plate 5 with the bridge member whereby said plate may be moved on the bridge member longitudinally thereof.

4. The combination with a sheet metal dent straightening machine having a hammer carrying cylinder and a coacting opposing anvil, of a bell unit carried by the hammer cylinder and extending beyond the end of the cylinder which is adjacent to the anvil, a plate of an area materially greater than the area covered by the bell and disposed across the bell, means securing the bell to the plate and rigidly holding the plate against movement independently of the bell land hammer cylinder, said plate having an opening for the hammer to work through against a piece of work, a relatively long bridge member comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails, means connecting the rails together at their ends, said bridge member being designed to extend across a dent in a sheet metal body, said plate being designed to position between said rails with the under surface of the plate and the under surfaces of the rails in the same plane, and means coupling the plate with the rails facilitating the movement of the plate longitudii nally of the rails.

5. The combination with a sheet metal dent straightening machine having a hammer carrying cylinder and a coacting opposing anvil, of a bell unit carried by the hammer cylinder and extending beyond the end of the cylinder which is adjacent to the anvil, a plate of van area materially greater than the area covered by the bell and disposed across the bell, means securing the bell to the plate and rigidly holding the plate against movement independently of the bell and hammer cylinder, said plate having an opening for the hammer to work through against a piece of work, a relatively long bridge member comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails, means connecting the rails together at their ends, said bridge member being designed to extend across a dent in a sheet metal body, said plate being designed to position between said rails with the under surface of the plate and the under surfaces of the rails in the same plane, and means coupling the plate with the rails facilitating the movement of the plate longitudinally of the rails, said bridge member being longitudinally arcuate.

6. For use in removing dents in sheet metal bodies, a relatively long unit comprising spaced parallel rails, said unit being designed to position upon the surface of a sheet metal body to bridge a dent in such body, and a hammering unit supporting plate supported on and between said unit rails for ,sliding movement longitudinally of .the unit,-said plate having its under surface in the plane of the under surfaces of said rails, said plate having an opening through which the hammering unit works.

7. A structure of the character described in claim 6, in which said unit is longitudinally arcuate.

FREDERICK J. HAUSCHILD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,427,299 Kennedy Aug. 29, 1922 1,957,495 Fleming May 8, 1934 2,148,943 Hauschild Feb. 28, 1939 2,263,423 Kattrein Nov. 18, 1941 2,282,11'1 Beckwith et al May 5, 1942 

